Japan recorded a new March tourism record with 3.6 million foreign arrivals, even as visitor numbers from China and the Middle East declined significantly, according to official data released on Wednesday (Apr 15).
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) said international arrivals rose 3.5 per cent year-on-year, driven largely by seasonal travel demand linked to cherry blossom viewing and holiday periods.
However, Chinese visitor numbers fell sharply by 56 per cent to 291,600, following travel advisories issued by Beijing last year. Arrivals from the Middle East also dropped by 30 per cent to 16,700 amid ongoing regional conflict involving Iran.
JNTO attributed the overall growth to strong seasonal tourism, noting that late March marked the beginning of Japan’s cherry blossom season, while school holidays in April also boosted inbound travel.
The pink-and-white sakura blooms, which signal the arrival of spring, continue to be one of Japan’s biggest tourism attractions, drawing large crowds for seasonal outdoor gatherings and cultural events across the country.
Previously, China was Japan’s largest source of inbound tourists, but numbers have declined sharply following strained diplomatic relations. Tensions worsened after comments by Japanese leadership regarding Taiwan, prompting Beijing to discourage travel to Japan.
Chinese arrivals have seen consecutive monthly declines, while South Korea has now become Japan’s largest source of tourists since January. Meanwhile, arrivals from countries such as Mexico, Malaysia, and Vietnam recorded strong double-digit growth during the same period.
